• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Nerd Cooks
  • Recipe Index
  • Outside of the Kitchen
    • A Nerd Travels
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Margarita Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Margarita Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Instant Pot

Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja

May 25, 2018 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I love it when you share my recipes!

320 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja is so great for so many reasons. It's super flavorful without being fussy in any way. It's super versatile, too.

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

What does "ropa vieja" mean?

Fun fact: "ropa vieja" translates to "old clothes"! The dish gets its name because the shredded meat (usually beef, but in this case, chicken) resembles torn, old clothes. The more you know...

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

What ingredients go into this dish?

  • Garlic and onion: I'd argue that these are the basis for most delicious savory dishes.
  • Bell peppers: You'll want to use two peppers. It's not mandatory, but I used two different colors for visual interest: green and red. 
  • Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, please.
  • Spices: Oregano, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and kosher salt.
  • Diced tomatoes and tomato paste: You want the diced tomatoes and the deeply tomato-ey flavor that the tomato paste imparts.

How does this dish come together?

Easy peasy!

It comes together really quickly thanks to it being prepared in the Instant Pot. And since the weather is already too hot here in North Carolina, being able to whip this up in a pressure cooker is a double blessing in that you don't have to worry about heating up your kitchen.

Basically, you dump everything into the Instant Pot, cook it, and shred the chicken up with some forks. 

Ta da!

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

Looking for other easy weeknight meals?

Check out my Three Ingredient Slow Cooker Taco Chicken, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken, and Pressure Cooker Carnitas. 

Oh! and don't forget about my Pressure Cooker Green Chicken Chili, either!

Where does this recipe come from?

This recipe is adapted from one found on Budget Bytes.

✨ Recipe

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

Instant Pot Chicken Ropa Vieja

Lauren Pacek
This Chicken Ropa Vieja is so great for so many reasons. It's super flavorful without being fussy in any way.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Instant Pot
Cuisine Cuban
Servings 6 servings
Calories 290 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ tbs oregano
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • black pepper to taste
  • 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
  • 3 tbs tomato paste
  • kosher salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Mince the garlic and set it aside.
  • Slice the onion into half-moons and cut the bell peppers into strips. Set aside.
  • Place the chicken breasts in an electric pressure cooker. Top with the garlic, spices, and sliced onions and peppers.
  • Add the can of tomatoes (with juices) and tomato paste.
  • Place the lid on the pressure cooker and lock it. Cook for 25 minutes on high pressure. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
  • Shred the chicken with two forks. Salt to taste.
  • Serve the ropa vieja in a bowl, over rice*, in tacos, etc.

Notes

Notes: This ropa vieja is great served over my Cilantro Lime Rice!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 49gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 297mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Keyword instant pot ropa vieja
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

Pin this recipe for later!

Pressure Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja | A Nerd Cooks

More Instant Pot

  • Pressure Cooker Steel Cut Oatmeal | A Nerd Cooks
    Instant Pot Oatmeal
  • Pressure Cooker Carnitas | A Nerd Cooks
    Instant Pot Carnitas
  • Pressure Cooker Green Chicken Chili | A Nerd Cooks
    Instant Pot Green Chicken Chili

I love it when you share my recipes!

320 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

More about me →

Margarita Recipes

  • two short glasses filled with blood orange margaritas
    Blood Orange Margarita
  • a pitcher of margaritas
    Margarita Pitcher Recipe
  • two glasses of italian margaritas, rimmed with sugar
    Italian Margarita
  • 45 degree angle view of 2 glasses of pineapple margaritas
    Pineapple Margarita
  • 2 golden margaritas on a pink and green tile background
    Golden Margarita
  • three margaritas on a dark wooden background, a dish of lime wedges in the left rear
    Cadillac Margarita

See More Margarita Recipes →

Popular Recipes

  • three shot glasses with green tea shots
    Green Tea Shot
  • Homemade Sour Mix | A Nerd Cooks
    Homemade Sour Mix
  • backlit view of 3 dirty shirley cocktails
    Dirty Shirley
  • three white tea shots on a brown wooden tray
    White Tea Shot
  • three baby guinness shots, with liqueur bottles in background
    Baby Guinness Shot
  • close up, straight on view of small bowl of dark cherries in foreground, old fashioned cocktail and bottle of luxardo liqueur in background
    Homemade Luxardo Cherries

Copyright © 2023 A Nerd Cooks on the Foodie Pro Theme

320 shares